Isaac newton lewis



I. N. LEWIS.

GAS REGULATOR AND TRAP TOR` AUTOMATIC GAS OPERATED' FIREARMS.

Aff

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

APPLICATION FILED MAY|0,1916.

. TED sTTEs PATENT oFErcE.

ISAAC NEWTON LEWIS, 0F THE UNITED STATES ARMY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC ARMS COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

` Application sied May 10,1916. serial No. 96,514.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAoNEw'roN LEwrs, colonel of the U. S. Army, a citizen of the United States of America, `residing at 5 Adelphi Terrace, Strand, London, W. C., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Regulators and Traps for Automatic Gas-Operated Fire# arms, of which the following iS a specification. v

This invention resides in a structure for attachment to automatically gas-operated firearms whereby the amount of gases of Figure 1is ai longitudinal vertical medial` section through the gun barrel and appur-` tenances including the gas cylinder and gas chamber. Fig. 2 is a transverseA vertical section through Fig. -1 in the plane indicated by line 2 2. Fig. 3\is a side eleva- .tion of the gas chamber and Fig. 4 is a plan of the underside thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar-to Fig. v1 with some modifications in the gas regulator and operating means.

The gun barrel is indicated by 5, the gas cylinder by 6, its piston by`7, the gas chamber by 8, and the gas port in the barrel by -9. In Figs. 1 and 2 a radiator casing is represented at 10 surrounding the radiator 11. The gas chamber 8 has a nipple 12 at its upper end registering with the -gas port 9. This nipple is preferably screwed into a band 13 surrounding'the barrel in the port zone. The outlet port .'14 of chamber 8 opens into the gas cylinder 6.

The regulator cup of the present invention is indicated `by 15. ,is closely fitted .up into the gas chamber, has' its upper end preferably countersunk into the upper wall of said chamber and is screw threaded. at

its` lower end for engagement with like threads in the.lower end of said chamber. This regulator cup has two or'more ports through its sides near its upper end'in positlon to register with'the outletport 14. Such ports are indicated by 16 and 17 Fig.

"1. The protruding lower end of the cup is provided with means for rotating it to bring the desired port thereof into registry with outlet port 14 or to bring a blank sideover' said outlet port when it is desired to cut off the fiow of gas tothe cylinder thereby stopping the automatic action of the gun. One device found veffective for this purpose consists of a key 18 which enters a transverse hole in the protruding end of the cup and bears a stud 20 at its other end for insertion in an eyelet or recess 21 in the casing 10. The shank of the key has sufficient spring set to hold the stud in the eyelet till forced out for rotating the cup tochange position of ports, or to take -the cup out for cleaning. To provide for readily forcing said stud out of its seat a hole 22 is made in the rear end'of said key into which the tip of an ordinary service cartridge such as used in the gun hererepresented may b e inserted.

When more than two ports are provided in the wall of cup 15 corresponding holes forthe operating key areJ made inthe pro-- truding end of the cup. In- Fig. 5 rthree such ports are shown port 23 having been added .to ports 16 and 17. The second transverse hole 24 through theprotruding end of the cup provides. for the key holding either port 23 in registry with port 14 or a blank'opposite 23 over port 14 as desired.

The three ports in the cup are graded in Size for admission of the required amount of gas to the cylinder 6 as circumstances may demand., The cup 15 simulates the ported plug of an axially discharging rotary valve. Through it however the course of the Huid is the reverse of the usual d1- rection, flowing into the plug iirst and through its ports to the outlet port.

When lthe gas regulatordescribed lsat-l tache'd tol guns which have not the casinglO; the key may have another form and any suitable stop may be provided therefor. In

Fig. 5A said key`1'8 has its holding studV vseated in a ring 25 secured to the-underside ofthe gas cylinder and the rear end of the keyis provided with a hook 26 under'whlch cylinder,

the tip. of a cartridge may be entered to pry the'stud 20 from its seat.- v

The bottom of the cup 15is well below the ports in its sides. This is 'an essential feature of the mechanism since the solid particles due to attrition in .firing the gun and to imperfect combustion are driven to the bottom of the cup and are there caught instead of' entering the cylinder 6. This helps to keep the cylinder clean and insures a longer period of operation for the piston 7. The additional capacity of the cup provided bythe space below the ports also affords an expansion chamber for the ygases thereby causing a more prolonged and constant pressure upon the piston 7. The detritus trapped in the cup is readily removed by unscrewing the cup and emptying it. This is quickly done with the key 18 which on being pried from its anchorage as above described may be removed from its hole 19 or 24 turned over and again inserted in one of them when its free end will swing clear of other parts due to the spring set therein and the chamfer atits inner end which also assists in the ready application of the key in either position. l

The bottom of the cup 15y constitutes really the lower end of the gas chamber 8 and said chamber may be properly characterized as yan expansion chamber provided with a pocketY below its outlet port for trapping detritus carried by the Operating gases. For attaching and-detaching the chamber 8 from the port band 13 spaces for the prongs of a Spanner-wrench are provided on its opposite sides between projections 27 and 28.

The invention claimed isv1. In a gas operated gun the combination of the barrelhaving a lateral gas port, a gas a g'as chamber interposed in the path of the gas from the barrel to the cylinder and a cup-shaped ported plug insaid chamber with its open end surrounding said vport in the barrel for regulating theow of gas to said cylinder. n

2. In a gas operated gun the combination of the barrel having a lateral gas port, a gas cylinder, a gas Chambernte'rposed'in the path of the gas from the barrel to the cylinder and having a lateral outlet port at its upper end opening into said cylinder, a cup- 'I signature.

shaped plug seated in said chamber with its'.v

open end surrounding said port inthe barrel and having ports of different sizes, and means for bringing one or .another of said varying ports into registry with said outlet port.

8. In a gas operated gun the combination with the barrel and gas cylinder, of` a gas chamber having a pocket below the path of the gas from the barrel to the cylinder for the purpose set forth.

In a gas operated gun the combination with the barrel and gas cylinder, of a gas chamber having a pocket below the path ofY the gas from the barrel to the cylinder, and

a rotary ported plug in said chamber for means for anchoring said key in adjusted' .I

position. n

6. In a gas operated gun the yc'icu'nbination/- with the barrel and gas cylinder, xof a gas chamber secured to the barrel at the'gas port thereof and having its outlet port into said cylinder'near the upper end, a rotary cup inserted in the lower end of said chamb er and provided with ports at its upper end registrable with `said outlet port and form`- j ing a closure for the lower' end of said chamber, and a key for rotating said cup.

7 In a gas operated gun the combination with the barrel and gascylinder, of a gas chamber secured to the barrel at the gas port thereof and having its outlet port into said vcylinder near the upper end, a rotary' cup inserted in the lower end of said chamber and provided with ports at its upper end registrable with said outlet port and forming a closure for the lower end of said chamber, a detachable spring key for rotating said cup, and a keeper' for anchoring said'key and cup in fixed position after rotation.

In testimonywhereof I have aiiiXed-my u isa-Ac NEWTON LEWIS. 

